Local author Sharron Morita publishes second book on history of Bridgeton

Special to The News"Bridgeton, New Jersey: City on the Cohansey" is local author Sharron Morita's second book on the city's history.

BRIDGETON — Local author Sharron Morita once again
has brought Bridgeton's past to the present, this time in her second historical
book, "Bridgeton, New Jersey: City on the Cohansey."

Morita
wrote her first book on the city's history, "Bridgeton Impressions: 1686-1986,"
for Bridgeton's 300th anniversary celebration, and she explains her
most recent publication as a second, updated version she was pleased to "redo
and do it better."

"I
did more research on the important documents of our history, like the Concessions
and Agreements of 1676/77, ...and I learned more about some of the important
people of our history," Morita said. "Our history is so rich, and it's
something for everybody around here to be proud about."

Morita
worked on her latest book from September 2011 to this past June, with financial
support through the Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission, and
published through the History Press in July. A thousand paperback copies of the
128-page book were printed at that time, and Morita was surprised to learn her
work is also available as an "e-book" for digital readers.

In
"City on the Cohansey," Morita offers readers highlights of Bridgeton's past
through well over 326 years of history, beginning with the Lenni-Lenape and
moving through exhilarating times of revolution, industrialization and change.

Morita
offered an explanation of the Concessions and Agreements document to give an
example of one "remarkable" piece of local history that ought to be better
known, given its far-reaching significance.

"That
was the foundational document of the West Jersey Province, of which Bridgeton
was a part, long before Bridgeton was Bridgeton. It was put together by the Quakers,
who were the settlers here, and William Penn used it as a model and contributed
to part of it too," Morita said. "If the U.S. Constitution had used Concessions
and Agreements, we would not have had slavery."

Fascinating
individuals memorialized in Morita's book include Dr. Jonathan Elmer, whom she
went so far as to call her hero. Elmer, born in Cedarville in 1745, was a
member of the first graduating class of what became the University of
Pennsylvania medical school and worked as a rural physician until he became too
frail to travel on horseback to care for his patients.

"He
never completely abandoned medicine, but he got into politics and was the
sheriff of Cumberland County," said Morita. "When the tea burners did their
thing, he was very sympathetic. It was the sheriff's duty to call a jury, so he
made sure it was a jury of Whigs, who, of course, did not bring any action
against the tea burners."

Taking
a look at more modern times, Morita describes "change in technology" as a "big
part" of Bridgeton's economic struggles; Seabrook Farms, for instance, now
needs far fewer employees to distribute far more products than it did in the 1950s
— "the need for muscle power just isn't there anymore," she said.

"Some
of the recent things I've read have led me to the idea that the city's
salvation might be with the river and of course the park. ...But I'm not an urban
planner, and I guess the city because of its financial situation has to make incremental
changes," Morita said. "I guess I offer more hope than a prescription."

When
asked what a hypothetical third book on Bridgeton's history may include, Morita
said women likely would be her focus, having already encountered a number of
stand-out ladies in her research.

"I
came across a description ... about a colonial-era housewife, and she was a
superwoman who worked in the fields, spun cloth, was almost a physician for her
children, just did everything," Morita said.

Another
notable local woman, Dr. Mary Bacon, was permitted to be the first female
doctor on the Bridgeton Hospital staff in 1939 after at least 20 years
practicing medicine. Bacon later extended the groundbreaking welcome once
offered to her to Dr. Leonard Scott, eventually the first African-American
physician on the hospital staff, by admitting Scott's patients before he had
hospital privileges.

Morita
will be signing copies of "Bridgeton, New Jersey: City on the Cohansey" at
Frank Burton and Sons Gallery at 333 Broad St. on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. The book-signing event will feature vintage photographs,
illustrations of Bridgeton by James Petit Cox and a number of images that
complement those printed in Morita's book, she said.

Another
book signing will be held on Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Greater Elmer Historical
Society, 120 S. Main St. in Elmer. Morita said piecing together Bridgeton's
history and now sharing it at these events has been "such a wonderful
experience."

"I
have to say that Bridgeton opened up its attic to me for the book, letting me
borrow pictures to use and giving me family memorabilia, just so I could kind
of fill in the blanks of things," she said. "People will often come up to me
and relate to me their own experience in Bridgeton, or how they're related to
people, and it's just wonderful."

"Bridgeton,
New Jersey: City on the Cohansey" is available at book signings, local
bookstores or directly through the publisher at historypress.net or 866-457-5971.